Memoirs of the Returnee
Chapter 315: Usurpation (1)

Elise Petra is truly distinguished. Even among the geniuses gathered at the Magic Tower, she is recognized for her exceptional talent, simultaneously an angel in white and a treasure of the magical world.

It's no exaggeration.

The elders of the Magic Tower themselves have acknowledged it. Even those proud old men seemed somewhat flustered by her.

Elise now agrees with the fact that she can save anyone, as long as they are not already dead. If they are at least on the brink of death, she can save them.

Especially when it comes to trauma, she boasts perfect treatment.

It's all thanks to her Spectrum, fMagnetism J .

The simplest example is stopping bleeding, but 「Magnetism」 can artificially direct blood flow to prevent damage to organs.

To put it a bit dramatically, it means she could even save someone whose lower half has been completely severed.

“Knights who get to team up with Miss Elise are really enviable.”

That's why mages often say this, envying the knight who will serve her more than themselves.

“At least they won't die during missions, right?”

“Hmm, well, maybe?”

Elise somewhat agrees. After all, her reputation has spread beyond the Magic Tower and across the continent.

“They said the same thing happened at Ortus last time.”

“Oh, that story is already out?”

Elise saved many lives during the Ortus terror attack. If it weren't for her, there would have been many more casualties.

There, she conducted surgeries on dozens of trauma patients simultaneously, Like a maestro conducting an orchestra, by her own assessment.

She considers it quite a heroic achievement.

“And how about her Looks? Her hair is like gold.”

“Hmm.”

Mages are a very personal bunch, but they are not stingy with praise. They are endlessly kind to those they respect and try hard to 'draw the line.'

After all, she is a sure future golden lifeline.

“Well then. Shall we prepare for the knight interviews?”

“Yes, see you later!”

“Miss Elise, if any knight bothers you too much, just tell me!”

Six mages left the office. Elise sat down with a slight smile.

“Hehehe.”

This is her office. Her personal space is adorned with Bianca camel merchandise on the desk drawers, in front of the computer, and on the shelves.

It's a space provided by the Edsilla Council. Perhaps a privilege of a third-tier mage.

Thus, for this teaming, the knights come to her. She just needs to comfortably conduct the interviews.

It's only natural.

A third-tier mage represents the top 0.0001% of the population, after all.

“Hmm.”

After moistening her mouth with a cup of water, Elise prepared for the interviews.

She intended to team up with as many knights as possible.

For their sake, not hers. After all, it's not every day they get to match wits with a high-level mage brimming with talent like herself.

——Knock, knock.

Just then, the butler entered as he knocked.

“Miss, the interviews are ready.”

A distinguished old gentleman. He was the person who managed Elise's external schedules, her butler.

“Let them in.”

Elise crossed her legs. Soon, a tall knight entered. He sat down confidently in the chair across from her.

Elise, with her arms crossed, asked, “What is your name?”

“Vikal Lichten.”

“…from the Lichten family?”

“Yes.”

Vikal flashed a knightly smile.

For your information, the Lichten family is quite well-known among knightly houses.

“Do you have any other documents?”

“Here is my Challenger Certification and my resume outlining my career.”

A Challenger Certification is roughly equivalent to a fourth-tier mage. His other credentials were also quite respectable.

Not a bad knight, but…

“Hmm. Yes, I'll review them. Til consider them positively. You may go now.”

He didn't particularly appeal to her. She also didn't Like how stiffly he held himself in front of a mage.

Elise dismissed VikaL

“Next.”

She meticulously evaluated each knight thereafter. They earnestly presented their personal pitches.

Considering they would definitely be part of national-Level operations in teaming, she was among the highest-ranking mages they could possibly meet.

“…Miss, this is the last one.”

Time had flown by, and it was almost time to end the interviews. The sunset was casting its glow through the window.

“Yesr let them in.”

Elise had already assigned scores based on appearance, ability, talent, humor, and many other criteria.

She planned to team up with about five of the highest-scoring individuals this year.

…But then.

The last knight suddenly sat down in front of her. Elise frowned slightly.

Such a basic lack of manners in a knight. He barely even greeted her as he entered.

“Excuse me. Its basic courtesy to greet when you enter…”

She was about to sharply rebuke this presumptuous knight, but she found herself speechless.

The moment she Looked across at them, all thoughts in her head ceased.

The criteria she had carefully set up shattered Like a glass window.

“Nice to meet you?”

Shion AscaL

This first-year knight smiled as he met her gaze.

Her heart pounded fiercely.

“…What's this?”

I fiddled around with various things in Elise's office.

Pulling out a book from the drawer, flipping through it, playing with some camel merchandise, and brewing coffee with the coffee machine.

“What is it?”

Elise called out to me again. It might have been my imagination, but her voice seemed tinged with enticement.

I shrugged my shoulders as I looked at her.

“What's what?”

“How did you end up here… as a first-year?”

“I don't know. They just let me come because I wanted to?”

“Hmph. You must have really wanted to come, huh?”

Elise smirked. Her cheeks were slightly flushed.

I sat back down in the chair.

“Hey. You're a mage and a doctor, right? I heard you're famous.”

“Huh. Seems the word has spread?”

“What… can you cure something Like cancer?”

I asked jokingly.

Then she responded with a serious expression.

“lts not impossible.”

“…Really?”

“But it would require research. Its not possible yet.”

“How many years?”

“10 to 20 years?”

I narrowed my eyes.

“What a waste.”

I got my hopes up for nothing.

Elise snickered.

“ln the Long term, it's possible. I already have some theories in mind.”

“ln the Long term, everyone dies.”

“…What are you talking about?”

I looked at Elise. Elise Looked back at me.

Ziiiing— A Laser seemed to shoot from her glaring eyes. I faced it and blew air out of my mouth.

Phew!

“…Ugh!”

Elise's face contorted as if she was angry. I chuckled and fiddled with a camel doll near the monitor.

She crossed her arms with authority.

“Did you come here to pick a fight?”

I loaded my immutable retort.

“Hey. There's been a lot of talk about you lately. You know?”

“…What?”

My goal is to set Elise straight. Of course, the definition of 'straight' varies by person, but well.

“They say you're incredibly snobby.”

According to my inside sources, her current state is somewhat off from that righteousness.

Her shoulders and pride are about to explode.

“…Rude? Did you just say I'm snobby?”

Elise suddenly showed her mage side, as if she was about to blurt out something like 'How dare you!'

Of course, I wasn't intimidated at all.

“Yeah. I heard you demand too much wherever you go.”

“That's the treatment a third-tier mage deserves—”

“Where does it say that? So, if you become a top-tier mage, you can just kill people?”

“…”

Elise shut her mouth. I Looked at her with a stern expression.

“lf you keep this up, I'll be disappointed as someone who acknowledged you.”

She flinched at my finishing move but muttered quietly like a chick.

“Be disappointed if you want…”

“Then I'm leaving.”

I immediately stood up. Elise, seemingly flustered, grabbed the hem of my clothes with her telekinesis.

“Where are you going? Aren't you going to give me the application7”

“What application?”

“For teaming.”

“Why would I team up with you?”

“What?”

“You're snobby. I don't team up with snobby mages.”

“…”

Then she looked troubled. Her eyebrows twitched and muttered softly.

“Just team up.”

“What?”

“Team.”

Her voice was unnecessarily shy.

I found myself smiling without realizing it.

“So, you're going to behave better from now on?”

It's not for nothing; she was the first proof I obtained in my regression.

She was a precious proof that I might be able to change the world, that I could possibly make a difference.

“You better behave yourself. Kve heard quite a bit about you too.”

Suddenly, Elise bristled.

“…”

Soon, the 'was' proof might change.

“Yeah. I'm leaving.”

“l'll do better.”

She quickly corrected herself.

I sat back down.

“But how exactly are you going to do better…”

Elise puffed her cheeks.

“Um.”

She stroked her chin.

Suddenly, a breeze swept in through the open window. The airy current tousled her hair. Her radiant blonde hair approached me.

“Just.”

Without thinking, I placed my fingers on her hair. I gently toyed with it, smiling.

“Take it easy. Calm down.”

Elise's face was bathed in the glow of the sunset.

Autumn. It was a day when preparations were underway for Derek's first public trial.

I initiated Vern's setup, Derek's rival, using Bell Moore team.

—This is Jeff. I've secured evidence related to artificial intelligence.

Luin, our Lead hacker, identified the information route they intended to discard, and Jeff intercepted it directly.

“Send it to the special investigation team and the media immediateLy.”

Following the confirmation of the "artificial intelligence crime* raised by the Holy Knight Theia, the parliament also formed a special investigation team.

If Derek was imprisoned, Vern, the CEO of Everett, had to be as well.

He would probably end up in the same prison as Derek. Meeting Vern in the cell next door, Derek might just not be able to keep from smiling.

—Yes, I'll pass it on.

I hung up the phone.

This too was a process to build Derek's favorability.

……

[Breaking news. It is now confirmed that Everetts artificial intelligence also obtained data from human souls…]

[It has been belatedly revealed that Vern, the CEO of Everett, embezzled funds through 'New Frontier1.]

I visited Derek in prison every three days. I prepared a different Lunchbox each day, tailoring the menu to Derek's tastes, though I kept the fact that I cooked them myself a secret.

Even for the vain Derek, and to show off my efforts.

I pretended to have sourced all sorts of luxurious foods from abroad for Derek.

The taste wouldn't be much different.

No, my cooking is probably much tastier?

“Today's meal is sourced from a three-star restaurant in the desert.”

I unfolded the Lunchbox. A faint smile spread across Derek's Lips.

In front of the food, he seemed to regain some peace of mind, though inside he was probably still rotting away.

“……1 heard the news.”

Derek picked up his chopsticks and spoke.

“Vern will be coming soon.”

“Yes.”

“ls it certain that he attacked Ortus?”

“AS of now, yes.”

“……”

Derek nodded expressionlessly. It was quite a dangerous look.

I had a feeling.

Vern probably wouldn't make it out of this prison alive. He might not even face trial.

“……This is good too.”

Derek nodded as if satisfied with the food. He moved his chopsticks for a while, and I watched him carefully before speaking.

“Lord Derek. The board of Derek Industries is convening.”

His chopsticks stopped abruptly.

Derek Industries* shares are not solely owned by Derek. For an efficient governance structure and to attract investments, the shares are distributed among various hands, including Vito.

“……It must be Vito's doing.”

“We can't be sure. We are unable to attend the board meetings.”

Derek's face turned contemplative.

I seized the moment and cautiously suggested.

“How about entrusting Miss Zia with the shares?”

“……TO Zia?”

Each of his words were tense.

If he caught on here, or if it angered him, a bloodless entry would be difficult.

“Yes. Miss Zia is also very concerned about Lord Derek. If she temporarily holds the shares and attends the board meetings, she can understand what they are planning, and Lord Derek can respond appropriately.”

“……”

Derek remained silent.

Tick, tock.

The seconds ticking by were quite nerve-wracking, but I couldn't show it.

I must appear as a loyal servant to Derek, and Zia as a concerned sister.

……Slowly, Derek spoke.

“That's a good idea. The documents?”

“Here they are.”

I placed the prepared documents on the table. Derek skimmed through them.

“Have them reviewed by the Libra legal team just in case.”

The share transfer documents were meticulously prepared. With just one signature, the shares of Derek Industries would belong to Zia.

Derek knew this, but a "perfect transfer1 was necessary under the current circumstances.

“……Very well.”

Derek picked up his fountain pen and easily signed his name in his own handwriting.

The first step of the usurpation was taken.

“Pass it on to Zia.”

“Yes.”

He then switched his fountain pen back to chopsticks.

“How is today's meal?”

“Satisfactory. Thanks to you, I'm starting to think prison isn't so bad. I might even consider staying a bit longer.”

That was typical of Derek's casual demeanor.

I must tread carefully here.

“Lord Derek is the pillar of Libra. With Libra shaking, you must return to the family soon……”

I rattled off phrases like a subject delivering a eulogy to an emperor - Derek is an incredibly important person - the whole of Libra is struggling because he's in jail -Miss Zia is very worried - everyone is working hard so you can be released as soon as possible - and Derek Listened as if he was attending poetry while continuing his meal.